HONG KONG: The Heung Yee Kuk may propose different alternatives for the re-location of Christian Zheng Sheng College, its chairman Lau Wong-fat said yesterday.

Lau said a plan to move the Zheng Sheng, a college for kids trying to kick drugs from Chi Ma Wan to Mui Wo, is not hopeless. But he added a balance should be struck between fulfilling social responsibility and the sensitivities of Mui Wo residents.

The college wants to use a vacant premise, previously occupied by the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School. The building has been vacant for two years, since the school ceased to operate. Local residents responded to news that Zheng Sheng wanted to relocate there, at first by expressing fears about how a drug rehabilitation school might affect the community. Later residents said they wanted the abandoned building used as a school for local children so the kids would no longer be forced to travel long hours to school in other areas.

Lau said after a meeting of the Heung Yee Kuk, a statutory body representing the indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories, that a 14-member group has been formed to follow up the matter. Lau will lead the group, which will meet on Saturday.

Lau said he also wants to arrange a meeting attended by representatives from the government, the Heung Yee Kuk, Mui Wo residents and the college to discuss the issue by the end of this month.

Lau said the group may suggest some alternative sites for the college re-location.

"I hope that we can pick up some sites for Zheng Sheng. I hope we can do it. There are several places that are better than Mui Wo," he said. "There are some vacant village schools. Some primary schools in urban area are also empty."

The Kuk was to discuss the matter with the college and Mui Wo residents yesterday, but decided to postpone the meeting because the charged atmosphere was not conducive to reasonable discussion.

The college said re-location is necessary because its existing campus is over-crowded.

The Kuk vice-chairman Lam Wai-keung, who is one of the members for the management committee of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School, said the school had never relinquished operating rights when the school ceased operation two years ago.

Lam said he has liaised with mainland universities and international schools about using the vacant site for campuses and hostels.

"We will demand for the site to be used for a school," he said.

(HK Edition 06/17/2009 page1)